The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker's Guide, #2)

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The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #2)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 76,112 ratings · 1,489 reviews

When all questions of space, time, matter and the nature of being have been resolved, only one question remains - "Where shall we have dinner?"

"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" provides the ultimate gastronomic experience, and for once there is no morning after to worry about.

VOLUME TWO IN THE TRILOGY OF FIVE.

Paperback, 200 pages

Published March 8th 2002 by Picador USA (first published 1980)

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Mar 20, 2012 Manny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, well-i-think-its-funny, parody-homage

"It must be nice," mused Ford Prefect thoughtfully, "to know what you're for. I don't have the slightest idea what I'm for. Most sentient beings don't. But you," he continued, turning to Arthur and Trillian. "You know. Part of finding the answer to the Ultimate Question. I'm sure that's comforting at times. "

"You mean the 42 business?" asked Arthur.

"What?" asked Zaphod's left head incredulously, while his right head rolled its eyes. "You mean you fell for that?!"

"But..." stammered Arthur. "I me...more

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May 28, 2009 Keely rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, science-fiction, novel, reviewed, uk-and-ireland, space-opera

The universe is a joke.

Even before I was shown the meaning of life in a dream at 17 (then promptly forgot it because I thought I smelled pancakes), I knew this to be true--and yet, I have always felt a need to search for the truth, that nebulous, ill-treated creature. Adams has always been, to me, to be a welcome companion in that journey.

Between the search for meaning and the recognition that it's all a joke in poor taste lies Douglas Adams, and, luckily for us, he doesn't seem to mind if you...more The universe is a joke.

Even before I was shown the meaning of life in a dream at 17 (then promptly forgot it because I thought I smelled pancakes), I knew this to be true--and yet, I have always felt a need to search for the truth, that nebulous, ill-treated creature. Adams has always been, to me, to be a welcome companion in that journey.

Between the search for meaning and the recognition that it's all a joke in poor taste lies Douglas Adams, and, luckily for us, he doesn't seem to mind if you lie there with him. He's a tall guy, but he'll make room.

For all his crazed unpredictability, Adams is a powerful rationalist. His humor comes from his attempts to really think through all the things we take for granted. It turns out it takes little more than a moment's questioning to burst our preconceptions at the seams, yet rarely does this stop us from treating the most ludicrous things as if they were perfectly reasonable.

It is no surprise that famed atheist Richard Dawkins found a friend and ally in Adams. What is surprising is that people often fail to see the rather consistent and reasonable philosophy laid out by Adams' quips and absurdities. His approach is much more personable (and less embittered) than Dawkins', which is why I think of Adams as a better face for rational materialism (which is a polite was of saying 'atheism').

Reading his books, it's not hard to see that Dawkins is tired of arguing with uninformed idiots who can't even recognize when a point has actually been made. Adams' humanism, however, stretched much further than the contention between those who believe, and those who don't.

We see it from his protagonists, who are not elitist intellectuals--they're not even especially bright--but damn it, they're trying. By showing a universe that makes no sense and having his characters constantly question it, Adams is subtly hinting that this is the natural human state, and the fact that we laugh and sympathize shows that it must be true.

It's all a joke, it's all ridiculous. The absurdists might find this depressing, but they're just a bunch of narcissists, anyhow. Demnading the world make sense and give you purpose is rather self centered when it already contains toasted paninis, attractive people in bathing suits, and Euler's Identity. I say let's sit down at the bar with the rabbi, the priest, and the frog and try to get a song going. Or at least recognize that it's okay to laugh at ourselves now and again. It's not the end of the world.

It's just is a joke, but some of us are in on it.(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Evan Leach rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1980-1989, science-fiction, humor-and-satire, brit-lit

Very entertaining sequel to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In this book, our heroes...I don't really know how to even begin to summarize the plot. Our heroes are on a quest to get something to eat which leads to adventures through time and space and parallel dimensions and a trip to visit the man who runs the universe. I have always thought that the Hitchhiker books get progressively weirder and weirder. Bear in mind that the first book features pan-dimensional superintelligent mice, so t...more

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Mar 20, 2012 K.D. Oliveros rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2006-2010); 501 Must Read Books

Shelves: 1001-core, 501, sci-fi, space-adventure, series

Better than the first book. This has more funny moments and I just found myself laughing out loud more than when I was reading the first book. I guess it was by design. Douglas Adams had to explain fully his milieu for the series. Since he did that in the first book, his characters now have the whole universe to play around for themselves. So, they just don't hop and hop from one planet to another but also in this one, enjoy a time travel. They went to a restaurant at the end of the universe. Pr...more Better than the first book. This has more funny moments and I just found myself laughing out loud more than when I was reading the first book. I guess it was by design. Douglas Adams had to explain fully his milieu for the series. Since he did that in the first book, his characters now have the whole universe to play around for themselves. So, they just don't hop and hop from one planet to another but also in this one, enjoy a time travel. They went to a restaurant at the end of the universe. Prior to my reading of this book, I thought that the restaurant is located at the end or the edge of the universe. But I was fascinated to learn that while eating steak (from the meat of a talking animal), you could watch the end or the death of the universe. Sorry for the spoiler but it's found in the first half of the book and there are other more interesting scenes in the second part and you have to read the book and experience for yourself how is it to be dining and watching the end of yourself. Very clever imagination.

I reason why I read this after the first book was that I'd like to find out what was the Ultimate Question for the Ultimate Answer that was "42." However, it seemed the Adams was deliberately delaying it as it was only in the second part where it was brought up and he did not even give any hints. So, after reading this book, I looked from the third book but I could not locate it. So, I am now reading the fourth book and since its title is Song Long and Thanks for All the Fish, I hope to already know what the Ultimate Question is.

Again, I am not really a big sci-fi fan so I understand if you find this book more enjoyable and rated this with more than 3 stars. However, I agree with you that this book is good: talking insect as receptionist, elevator refusing to come up, animal talking to you prior to being butchered so you can buy and eat its meat, restaurant at the end of the universe, etc. They are all cleverly thought of that not too many of writers would be able to put them in one book and make people laugh. Really, unbelievable.

On to the 4th book. (less)

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Jun 19, 2010 Cecily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humour, sci-fi-or-futuristic

Hitchhiker's, volume 2.

The beginning of human life on earth and the end of the universe, aided by infinite improbability.

As with the others, it's the ideas and writing that make it so good:

Marvin makes a heavily armoured tank guess what weapon he has (nothing).

"The guide is definitive. Reality is frequently inaccurate".

"How are you? Fine if you like being me, which personally, I don't".

"Everything's cool and froody".

"Little expense had been spared to give the impression that no expense had...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Ranee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dna

laughter is universal. Surprises are not boring, like the galaxy we are in and the next one beside ours and those little rocks that like to orbit our world. there is so much out there, Adam's imagination is complex, in a beautiful way, you'll just have to hate yourself if you do not try to read it and find it out for yourself.

The world was supposed to end last December 21, 2012. Oh, let's just say it did. The molten core of the earth suddenly felt like belching out to the surface killing all of...more laughter is universal. Surprises are not boring, like the galaxy we are in and the next one beside ours and those little rocks that like to orbit our world. there is so much out there, Adam's imagination is complex, in a beautiful way, you'll just have to hate yourself if you do not try to read it and find it out for yourself.

The world was supposed to end last December 21, 2012. Oh, let's just say it did. The molten core of the earth suddenly felt like belching out to the surface killing all of mankind as we know it. Or maybe an asteroid as big as the moon (or the moon itself) suddenly wants to drop into the Pacific to hail the various marine life surfing in gigantic tsunamis into every continent (and yes, including the Lochness monster and once and for all proved its existence prior to becoming extinct forever). Or a bunch of aliens heard we have the best chicken this side of the galaxy and started frying our legs and breasts for their expanding food chain and annihilating everything that remains when they found out that there's a growing number of Earthlings with AIDS, apparently, this causes flu-like effects on them, so much like SARS from unknowing ducks and chickens. But, there is a calming effect this creates on me, everyone dies, no one gets left behind. Oops, of course with the exception of the immortals. I pity them, for the first time I was glad I did not say forever or not bitten by a vampire or drank water from the eternal fountain. That would be too sad, if I were immortal, I'd be floating in outerspace, undead. Oh the irony of life...and death.

But the world did not end. Whew! So hooray for us and boo for the doomsday preppers!

So what about this book? Like any logical person of science, one believes in the existence of intelligible and sometimes incoherent beings outside Earth. In the HHGTTG series, the world did end to make way for a new hyperspace highway/bypass. In this second outing, we venture into time travel into the farthest future (Remember in Calculus when we start deriving the limits for infinity, and find out the correspondence prior to infinity? If you do, lucky you because I don't)when the universe, yes the whole of it gets blown off to smithereens.

So what's so special? When the universe ends, people/aliens/mice/dolphins panic and start bumping each other in the head (Well, I imagine that much) And no one gets to see how beautiful and extravagant the array of colors a mega, ultra, supernova creates. Unless of course you dine in the restaurant at the end of the universe. The restaurant is inside a time bubble that protects everything inside it from the massive effects of destruction keeping its customers amazed on the magnificent display of lights. Food there is also a delight, as if escargot is not foreign enough, try looking in their menu. Plus, everyone that loved Marvin the robot would again find him in his usual depressive, destructive self. And for those in search of their own God would find an interesting tale in here and a different outlook on pencils (Be warned, DNA is an athiest, any similarity of his version of god to your god is unintended)

Admittedly, not everyone gets the humor in the sarcasm of science by DNA. But if you do, you happily laugh at its ridiculousness and leave you with that tiny bit of what if's, enough to let you ponder that such theory may be true (I was not promoting the big bang theory)But this book is worth my while, kept me on a many laughable times including the time I reread it. And it somehow changed me on how I treat rain and the character of the universe at its end.
(less)

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Apr 21, 2009 Connor rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who like humerous sci-fi's, & who have read 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'

Shelves: book-club

This book is based on the fact that Zaphod Beeblebrox is looking for the ruler of the Universe to fulfill a plan that he doesn't even know he had because he had part of his memory removed. Part of the problem is, though, only three people know he exists and even they don't know where he is. Another problem is is that the ship he and his companions' ship is not working because Arthur Dent made it try to figure out how to make tea. All of this leads to another random adventure where anything can h...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Simona Bartolotta rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantascienza-and-co

Al principio fu creato l'Universo. Questo fatto ha sconcertato non poche persone ed è stato considerato dai più come una cattiva mossa.

Avevo fatto la cavolata di leggerlo prima della Guida e per rimediare al mio errore l'ho riletto.
L'ho sicuramente apprezzato molto più della prima volta, ma una cosa la devo dire: la Guida è insuperabile!!

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Nov 26, 2009 Benjamin Duffy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, fantasy-sci-fi

Back in junior high school, when I was being bussed 30 miles each way to the Magnet School for Gifted Math and Science Students (don't get excited; I washed out of the program in shame and disgrace after two years), the Hitchhiker's Guide series were all my nerdy friends' favorite books. They would throw quotes and in-jokes about Pan-Galactic Gargleblasters and Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts of Kraal back and forth at each other much like some (annoying) people like to do with Monty Python films or...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Louise-Lesley (Elle) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

In reading this I was worried that Douglas Adams may not live up to the first amazing book of this series, but he did, and more.

I am in awe of how Adams works language. It's just a joy to read. I didn't stop laughing nearly the entire time reading this. So many random moments like lifts that talk back, mistakes with contraception and time machines and other random, random things.

The ending just kinda fizzled off and left me wanting to know what happens next - not so much a cliff hanger but defin...more

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Jul 17, 2009 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Zany Lovers of Ironic Science Fiction

Shelves: 2009

Oh, how I do love Douglas Adams.

I find something really profound in the way Douglas Adams presents life, even through an otherwise nonsensical and just purely humorous book. When I look past the surface, some of life's most thought-provoking themes lie so clearly woven amidst his stories.

Each encounter, each adventure, each beloved character, each twist, each turn; these are all humorous, superbly written, and wonderful, but what I believe Adams does better than his other counter-parts is lace...more

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May 11, 2013 Roy Elmer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comedy, science-fiction

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is a clear continuation of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The tale picks up exactly where the first volume in Douglas Adams's 'trilogy of five' leaves off, following a confused and bewildered Arthur Dent. Yes, the last survivor of the destruction of Earth, floating through the cosmos following the destruction of his home planet to make way for an interstellar bypass is just a little out of sorts. He just wants a cup of tea, and things just sort of go...more The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is a clear continuation of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The tale picks up exactly where the first volume in Douglas Adams's 'trilogy of five' leaves off, following a confused and bewildered Arthur Dent. Yes, the last survivor of the destruction of Earth, floating through the cosmos following the destruction of his home planet to make way for an interstellar bypass is just a little out of sorts. He just wants a cup of tea, and things just sort of go badly wrong from there.

Adams has crafted another truly peculiar and unique tale. The writing is laugh out loud funny at times, irreverent and yet politically charged and really quite literary on many levels. Adams uses the plight of poor Arthur Dent to discuss such diverse themes as right wing politics, an absent minded God, nature versus nurture, causality and a range of other themes. He does so in a way that doesn't feel preachy, or as if he is paying lip-service to the topics that he chooses to tackle.

There are some interesting characters here, too: Zaphod Beeblebrox, the amnesiac president of the galaxy, Marvin, an unfortunately paranoid and manic depressive android, a popular heavy metal act who is spending a year dead for tax reasons, and all of the characters, their interactions, their dialogue serve to enhance the plot. There isn't a single moment that feels unnecessary, contrived, or a sort of 'a to b' moment.

If I did have a criticism of this book, it would be that there were times where Adams's penchant for the obscure, the weird or the just plain absurd did detract from my own need for consequences. Zaphod, Arthur, Ford and co found themselves in some very hairy situations, and low-and-behold, something odd would happen, completely unexpectedly, and they would be saved from whatever peril they faced at the drop of a hat. While I suppose that fits with the tone that Adams sought to create, it did jar with me a little, and that's the reason I'm giving this a four.(less)

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May 10, 2013 Lucinda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An epic creation that takes science-fiction to a whole new level and which is destined to become a classic

For anyone interested in science-fiction, Douglas Adams ‘Hitch-hiker’s guide to the galaxy’ is indispensable reading, as too are those books within the series that follow. He is an author who defines sci-fi, with a uniquely identifiable style and out-of-this world concepts that continue to dazzle and amaze. This is the book that everyone is talking about across galaxies. This is the stuff o...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Benja Min rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"... the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination."

"I am so amazingly cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month. I am so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis."

"If human beings don't keep exercising their lips, their brains start working.”

"Infinite: Bigger than the b...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Ana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: me-likey-a-lot, creatures-spirits, ebook, fallen-characters, humour-me, page-turner, science-fiction

I picked it up this morning and I finished it 7 hours later. I just didn't want to let it go. Too much fun, I suppose.

It's so funny that I still laugh at childish jokes that don't even make that much sense! I thought I was smarter than that, but if I'm not, I'm happy. This is definitely a series to read, it's just too much to miss out on!

As the second book of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of Universe picks Arthur Dent up from where he was, in the middle of a c...more I picked it up this morning and I finished it 7 hours later. I just didn't want to let it go. Too much fun, I suppose.

It's so funny that I still laugh at childish jokes that don't even make that much sense! I thought I was smarter than that, but if I'm not, I'm happy. This is definitely a series to read, it's just too much to miss out on!

As the second book of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of Universe picks Arthur Dent up from where he was, in the middle of a crazy group that he didn't ask for, in places he didn't want to visit, with enemies he didn't want to have.

Even if I'd like to do a serious review for this, I just can't. It's simply too easy-going for me to think about it in a serious manner. I'm having fun with it. And it's not just the childish jokes that I love. It's also the fact that throughout the book, Douglas manages to talk about and mock the human values of today and what we believe of ourselves and how we act around other people. It's amazing how he can do that while still keeping his boyish charm and delivering line after line that make you laugh/giggle/smile. Loved it!

Some quotes, will you?

In fact to see anything much uglier than a Vogon ship you would have to go inside it and look at a Vogon. If you are wise, however, this is precisely what you will avoid doing because the average Vogon will not think twice before doing something so pointlessly hideous to you that you will wish you had never been born - or (if you are a clearer minded thinker) that the Vogon had never been born.

They were a double pair of Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses, which had been specially designed to help people develop a relaxed attitude to danger. At the first hint of trouble they turn totally black and thus prevent you from seeing anything that might alarm you.

"Look," said Zaphod, "I'm up to here with cool, okay? I am so amazingly cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month. I am so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis. Now will you move before I blow it?"

Trin Tragula - for that was his name - was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.

"You mean they want to arrest me over the phone?" said Zaphod. "Could be. I'm a pretty dangerous dude when I'm cornered."
"Yeah," said a voice from under the table, "you go to pieces so fast people get hit by the shrapnel."

In the end, pretty nice piece of a second installment and I'm soon going to devour the other three! (less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Avery K. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Awesome book. It's just as good as The Hitchiker's guide, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first one or likes sci-fi and humor.
It starts off with the Vogons trying to anhilliate Zaphod's crew and the Heart of Gold while the ship is occupied with trying to make tea per Arthur's request. They escape, and Zaphod finds himself once again trying to evade the police. (view spoiler)...more

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Dec 11, 2012 5ryan_brennan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In this book, Douglas Adams really opens up the series to a new level.

The plot begins at the ending of the first book, when Arthur, Ford, Marvin, and Zaphod are on a ship in space. Zaphod controls the ship to make it arrive at the restaurant at the end of the universe, This restaurant has caused Arthur, Ford, and Zaphod to steal a space ship that has turned its autopilot on to run into the sun. The Ship then crashes into the sun, but all but Marvin escape from the ship. This leaves Marvin in the...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Utku Bayram rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Name: Utku Haluk Bayram L9-4
Book Name: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Writer: Douglas Adams
Genre: Science Fiction
Target Audience: I recommend this book the all people who wants to learn about the meaning of life. It's language is not very hard to understand and also it is very funny.
I choose this book because before this book, I read "The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and I love it. Then I think that I should read the all books of this series. The Restaurant at the End of The Univ...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

SUMMARY:
"DOUGLAS ADAMS IS A TERRIFIC SATIRIST."--The Washington Post Book WorldFacing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons is a curious time to have a craving for tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his curious comrades in arms as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability--and desperately in search of a place to eat.Among Arthur's motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Gijs rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, fiction, english, 20th-century, humor, british-literature, read-more-than-once, 20th-century-1980s

Deel twee van de vijfdelige Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogie is niet minder onzinnig dan het eerste, (view spoiler)

Helaas gebeurt er in de rest...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Christine Blachford rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I read the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, there was a feeling of relief because so many people like it, and I had liked it too! Once that was out the way, many said I had to read on to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe because it was even better. Thus the pressure was right back on again.

Thankfully, I enjoyed the whole restaurant business just as much as the first. It felt a lot easier to read, presumably because the characters are all embedded in my mind now, and finding a two-h...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Leanne Kinkopf rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, science-fiction, amazing-books, uk-irish, fiction

Book Two of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series is easily as funny, if not funnier, than the first. Somehow, it's able to squeeze in jokes nearly every other sentence, frequent word play, likeable characters, and plot.

The story follows Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian, and Marvin the depressed robot on their search for the question to the answer of life. The part of Zaphod's brain previously blocked to him starts to push through, and leads them on a quest to find th

...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Jonathan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, popularity-contest, quirky-fiction, humorous

This was a most excellent second novel in what is a weird and intriguing series. I don't know how many fans who are not into sci-fi enjoy this series but I do know it is a must read if you appreciate sci-fi and humour.

Douglas Adams has this way of using Deus ex Machina to produce profound humorous effects. It makes his work rather bizarre and zany but it is all the more endearing for that. Because without all the quirky, silly comedy, the flippant lines, the weird and random happenings his work...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british, comedy, sci-fi

When last seen in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy our intrepid heroes were zipping across space in a desperate attempt to evade the various groups hoping to imprison, torture, and/or kill them. Seems like a strange time to get the munchies, doesn’t it? But anything goes in a Douglas Adams story, so the gang decides to pop into the restaurant at the end of the universe--literally--for a quick nibble. But--surprise!--things soon go awry, and before you can say, "Don't panic," Zaphod and Trill...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 12th-grade-advisory

The restaurant at the end of the universe
Douglas Adams
256 pages
Gramercy Books
ISBN: 0345418921

This is the second installment of the Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy. If you have not read the first book this is a quick recap. The earth is destroyed by aliens and Arthur Dent was the only who survived. An alien named Ford Prefect took Arthur with him to space so that he can start a new life. There, they go on a crazy adventure as Arthur tries to adjust to everything. As the second book begins Arthu...more

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Nov 01, 2011 Grant rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My book review is on “The Restaurant at The End of The Universe”. This book is the sequel to “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy”. It is about aliens blowing up the Earth. One guy escapes on a spaceship with a robot with a depressive OS and the president of the galaxy, except he isn’t the president anymore because he stole a spaceship which was the one the guy, named Arthur, is on. All the ex president wants to do is find a place to eat. But Arthur wants coffee. When he tells the ship to make...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Jesus rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Segunda parte de la 'trilogía en cinco partes' iniciada con La guía del autoestopista galáctico. Al igual que el anterior, me encantó, desternillante y muy inteligente.

Tenemos un restaurante situado al borde del instante final del Universo, para poder cenar mientras se contempla el espectáculo. Viajes espaciales, a través del tiempo, albores de civilizaciones, grupos de música intergalácticos con montajes espectaculares (y destructivos)... ¡hasta hay un cantante que se encuentra pasando una temp...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Anthony rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Douglas Adams is one of those authors with cult followings that I know this review will find offensive. I admit that I have never read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but I’m culturally aware of the impact he has had on pop culture and I’ll even suffer a benign chuckle when the number 42 pops up in media reference as the answer to everything. I’m aware of the influence that Adams has had, but honestly, I just don’t understand why. Yes, he is a humorous, and through my reading of the The Re...more Douglas Adams is one of those authors with cult followings that I know this review will find offensive. I admit that I have never read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but I’m culturally aware of the impact he has had on pop culture and I’ll even suffer a benign chuckle when the number 42 pops up in media reference as the answer to everything. I’m aware of the influence that Adams has had, but honestly, I just don’t understand why. Yes, he is a humorous, and through my reading of the The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, I admittedly laughed a few times at Adams’ sardonic wit. However, I just couldn’t get excited for his writing style or the bizarre plot that spans time, space, and the end of the universe.

Pointedly, Adams fans will say that I must read the The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in order to appreciate The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, and to them I say that the The Restaurant at the End of the Universe was a gift to me from an Adams fan, albeit it was a gift that took me 12 years to read. So, why should I have to take a step back and get backstory when an Adams friend told me to start here? I have tried many a time to read this book. It is short with big font, but it took me multiple attempts over the past 12 years to read.

What is it that detracts me from Adams? When I talk about Dostoyevsky or Garcia Marquez I often hear the complaint that the readers can’t get past the difficult Russian or Spanish names with interchanging confusing nick-names, and so on. This is the exact feeling I have with Adams. I can’t get past all of the made up names like Zaphod Beeblebrox, Zarniwop, Fintlewoodlewix, Golgafrincham, and so on. I understand that with an interstellar setting Adams must create new words that sound like they are from an alien language, but to me the words just sound plain made up and childish and this unfortunate distraction inhibited me from getting into Adams. Since the character names, places, planets, and so on sound like gibberish, the plot felt like gibberish too.

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Jun 27, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The insane randomness continues in this next installment of the HHGG series. I do love Douglas Adams. Just when I have had about enough of random, he gives you just enough plot to keep you interested…and vice versa. I really can’t complain about anything with these books, although I know that further along in the series, the plot is going to dissipate even more. I love all the characters, including Marvin, no matter how annoying he gets he brings perspective. I love the computer on the Heart of...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Scalabrine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe", is a comedic novel written by Douglas Adams. This is the second installment in his five part comedy series. The main characters Arthur, Ford, Trillian, and Zaphod make their way through the twisted space of the universe. This book is entirely makes fun of science fiction in a whole new way. This book leaves off with the Arthur, Ford, Trillian, and Zaphod escaping an alien battle on one of the many planets of this universe. They end up exploring space...more "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe", is a comedic novel written by Douglas Adams. This is the second installment in his five part comedy series. The main characters Arthur, Ford, Trillian, and Zaphod make their way through the twisted space of the universe. This book is entirely makes fun of science fiction in a whole new way. This book leaves off with the Arthur, Ford, Trillian, and Zaphod escaping an alien battle on one of the many planets of this universe. They end up exploring space and alien planets to avoid the constant turmoil. Arthur is a human, and in the first novel he was abducted just as the earth was destroyed. Each character has their own strange dimensions to setup intelligent jokes. Douglas Adams appears to demonstrate this perfectly with character developement. While passing through the universe the smallest details were perfectly setup to make you laugh. As far as the plot goes, Douglas Adams has a very complex setup for a comedic novel. Comedy is all about catching the jokes and irony, and sometimes it is hidden with in the text almost to a point where you have to reread to catch it. If you are a person that understands a slightly twisted complex setup then this book may be for you. His jokes are right on par with timing and my viewing level. This means that he isn't going to tell a joke out of nowhere. The comedy is all in the writing style, and at the end of the day, his personality and the well developed characters will make you laugh. He writes with detail, and his voice changes between character thoughts, actions, and dialogue. You have to pay close attention to catch each and every setup he makes, otherwise you may have a different experience then most readers. I recommend this book to anyone who likes comedy, but at a slightly more sophisticated level. You will have to pay careful attention to the plot as minor detail can be really important to make your experience humorous. If you are interested i highly recommend that you ready the first book, "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", before reading this one. Overall this book was a page turner for me and a lot of other people who read this book. If you have heard of or seen the movie, DO NOT JUDGE THIS BOOK ON IT. The movie was entirely different and the books are so much better in every way possible. All in all, Douglas Adams is a sophisticated comedy writer, who will keep you reading till the end, and will make you constantly want more.(less)

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About Douglas Adams

Douglas Noël Adams was an English author, comic radio dramatist, and musician. He is best known as the author of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Hitchhiker's began on radio, and developed into a "trilogy" of five books (which sold more than fifteen million copies during his lifetime) as well as a television series, a comic book series, a computer game, and a feature film that was comp...more

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Books by Douglas Adams

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1)

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1-5)

Life, the Universe and Everything (Hitchhiker's Guide, #3)

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (Hitchhiker's Guide, #4)

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently, #1)

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“The story so far:
In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.” — 13,037 people liked it

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened.” — 5,110 people liked it

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The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #2)

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